Whitehall Authority Cuts Expansion Plans For Its Headquarters

The Whitehall Authority voted 3-2 last night to slice off more than half of its proposed building expansion after one member said the authority was "getting a little big for our britches."

The project now calls for an 1,800 square-foot addition to the authority's four-year-old, 3,000-square-foot headquarters on Schadt Avenue. Engineer David Heinly estimated the cost at $90,000.

Scrapped after several hours of debate last night and last month was a proposed $218,000, 4,200-square-foot addition that some members argued was needed to make room for the authority's long-term growth.

"I think that this authority is getting to the point where we're getting too easy with the bucks," said member Alan Dangler, who proposed the project revision that was approved. "I think we're getting a little big for our britches, that's my personal opinion."

"Everything Alan says is now," countered board member Marie Kaiser, who joined with member Henry Weber in the minority vote. "I'm thinking about the future. Why do we want to say we should have done it?"

Board member William Huber questioned if the authority will need the larger expansion after it completes a major expansion of its water system that already is under way.

"How much bigger are we going to be getting after the lines are in?" he asked.

An addition to the headquarters was first proposed in September, when Heinly and Manager Doug Bowen showed the board a plan for a $400,000, 4,400- square-foot addition.

The plan included four bays for vehicles, a central control room, a room for the authority's new computer system, an expanded meeting room, a workshop for meter repairs and a drafting room.

The proposal was revised to reduce the number of vehicle bays after the board decided it might be more cost-effective to erect a pre-manufactured steel building for vehicles behind the main building as the need arises.

Last month, however, Heinly was sent back to the drawing board to provide estimates for two less-costly alternatives that each eliminate part of the revised expansion plan.

The plan cleared last night, however, was a more sweeping suggestion by Dangler, who said he doubted the authority would need as much space as was proposed.

Dangler's plan also would require the erection of the separate building for vehicles, at an estimated cost of $50,000, according to the board.

Heinly was instructed to lay out the approved 1,800-square-foot addition using the "most critical" aspects of the original plan.

Among them will be the central control room, which Heinly said will regulate water pressure throughout the system, saving both manual labor and energy costs.

The building project is planned as the authority continues a fast-paced program of expanding its system to keep up with major commercial and residential development.

Last night the board passed resolutions to seek clearance by the township commissioners for the authority to spend nearly $100,000 on about 3,000 feet of new water line along Schadt Avenue and Mechanicsville Road.

The authority's expansion also is tied to its plan to be the primary supplier of water to undeveloped areas of the township, a plan that has raised the ire of the Northampton Borough Municipal Authority, which currently serves about 4,500 Whitehall residents.

In October, the authority and the township commissioners entered into an agreement which grants the authority the "right of first refusal" to service the undeveloped areas.

The Northampton authority recently has threatened legal action against the Whitehall Authority if it attempts to extend its water line along MacArthur Road in an area which Northampton said it already serves.

Authority members who were seriously concerned about the costs of the proposed building expansion had their financial concerns allayed somewhat last night by the authority's auditor, who gave the board a glowing year-end financial report.

Bruce Loch said the board has a 75-25 equity to debt ratio that is virtually the reverse situation of most small authorities.

"You really have very little debt outstanding for an authority this size," said Loch. "Obviously the authority has been managed very well."

Loch's audit showed the authority has assets of nearly $2.5 million and debt of $712,600.